The Pearland Economic Development Corporation (PEDC) has reached a milestone in its work to transform the region’s workforce ecosystem through programs that unite Pearland’s community with local employers and educational institutions. After the successful implementation of its first five-year workforce strategy action plan, it is now actively working to develop and launch the next five-year plan, having laid a robust foundation for Pearland’s ongoing workforce initiatives. Future efforts will build on this groundwork, providing key differentiators that set the community apart and ensuring Pearland continues to be the community of choice for both employers and talent.
Pearland’s approach to workforce development stands out for its commitment, focus, and a 360‑degree model that aligns employers, educators, community partners and residents around shared outcomes. This model translates strategy into practical tools and measurable results, from employer‑driven training and grants to education pathways and community supports that remove barriers to work.
The PEDC, in collaboration with the Pearland Chamber of Commerce (Chamber) and the City of Pearland, has successfully positioned Pearland’s workforce program as a trusted resource to employers, education, and community partners. Employers benefit from a reliable advocate who connects them to workforce resources; education and training providers benefit from better relationships with businesses; and residents & community partners benefit from greater access to local employment opportunities and their own workforce resources.
The first plan, spanning 2022-26, saw major accomplishments, including the launch of WorkInPearland, a career resource platform, and the organization of several youth-focused career exploration events that gave local students insights into local career opportunities and pathways to interviews with local businesses.
WorkInPearland, an initiative born from an employer need and created by the PEDC and Chamber, is an interactive workforce platform and resource hub that connects job seekers and employers year-round. The platform offers online job postings and employment resources, making it easy to search for local opportunities, access training programs, and connect with hiring managers virtually. In addition to its digital features, WorkInPearland annually hosts in-person job fairs and career exploration events. Since its launch, WorkInPearland has connected over 5,000 job seekers and 100 businesses online and introduced thousands more to local employers through in-person job fairs.
In addition, Pearland’s workforce development program has helped to launch apprenticeships and secure State funding for businesses to have, in some cases, their first-ever internship programs, using an internship toolkit created by the PEDC and Chamber. The PEDC also worked with employers, the Gulf Coast Workforce Board and education partners like Alvin College to bring in grant dollars for Pearland businesses to develop upskilling and reskilling training for employees. Through these efforts, Pearland businesses have benefitted from more than $2 million in grant funding for employee training.
This work has also generated exponential growth in workforce-focused collaboration and initiatives in Pearland, resulting in increased opportunity for Pearland-area students and residents.
Third Coast, a custom chemical manufacturing company based in Pearland, is currently on its second cycle of the Skill Development Fund, demonstrating what success can look like on the opposite end of these career pathways. The company received funding facilitated by the PEDC to provide custom process technology training and customer service training to existing employees. This has resulted in a more skilled workforce and an increase in staff retention.
“Since starting our Skills Development Fund Grant in August 2024, we have had 212 individuals complete grant-funded training and 125 operators complete our internal operations training programs,” said John Henderson, training manager at Third Coast.
The link between Pearland businesses and educational institutions is paramount to the success of Pearland’s workforce development efforts. As a response to employers' needs communicated through the PEDC and Chamber, Alvin College and San Jacinto College launched new biotech and biomanufacturing training programs in the region, which have become a key element in new career pathways that lead directly from these colleges to biotech-focused companies that are, literally, right down the street.
Crystal Aguilar, who attended high school in Pearland, paints the picture of one such success story. She enrolled in the biotechnology certificate program at Alvin College, which offered an affordable and accelerated curriculum, enabling her to earn the skills and certifications that made her eligible to be hired by Pearland biomanufacturer Lonza.
“At Lonza, we had an onboarding training where I felt very advanced and very confident,” said Aguilar, “I was able to finish that training in half the time of other trainees.”
For the next iteration of the workforce plan, the PEDC plans greater integration of the different platforms that have been built, making the WorkInPearland brand a ‘front door’ for all of its three key audiences: Employers, educators and job-seekers. All of them can find something to help them achieve their goals.